Death, the only immortal who treats us all alike, whose pity and whose peace and whose refuge are for all - the soiled and the pure, the rich and the poor, the loved and the unloved.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Mark Twain describes death as the only equalizer, offering pity, peace, and refuge to all, regardless of status or love.
- In plain terms
- Death treats everyone alike, offering pity and peace to all.
- What can you take from it?
- Mortality unites people across all differences.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does the awareness of death shape our values?
- Can recognizing equality in death improve how we treat others?
Another view
It personifies death, a metaphorical rather than literal comfort.
More from Samuel Langhorne Clemens
Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them.
Permalink to quote #121 In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs not…
Permalink to quote #123 Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.
Permalink to quote #120
Related quotes
As men, we are all equal in the presence of death.
Publilius SyrusPublilius Syrus quote #1 The death rate is the same for us as for anybody...one person, one death, sooner or later.
Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. Heinlein quote #12 The wise man dies no better or more wisely than the fool. In what way, then, is the wise man wise?
Joseph HellerJoseph Heller quote #40